Diver in His 40s Dramatically Rescued After Drifting Off Deunggado, Tongyeong

The coast guard is pulling the diver they rescued onto the patrol vessel. Provided by Tongyeong Coast Guard Station

A diver who entered the sea off the coast of Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, was dramatically rescued by the coast guard.

According to the Tongyeong Coast Guard Station on October 14, a report was received at around 2:09 p.m. that day that a diver in his 40s, identified as A, who had entered the waters near Deunggado, Hansan-myeon, Tongyeong, had not resurfaced.

The Tongyeong Coast Guard immediately dispatched five patrol vessels, one rescue team vessel, one aircraft, and a marine disaster rescue team.

While searching the waters near the accident site, the coast guard found A drifting about 4.5 kilometers west of the entry point at around 3:10 p.m. and rescued him.

A had departed from Geumpo Port in Geoje at around 10 a.m. that day on a 4.99-ton motorboat to enjoy underwater leisure activities, entering the sea near Deunggado with two other divers.

Unlike the other divers who resurfaced, A did not come up even after the scheduled time, prompting the boat captain to report the incident to the coast guard.

The coast guard plans to investigate the exact circumstances of the accident, questioning A and the boat captain.